Dr. Laura Schlessinger recommends Bringing Up Geeks
Listen to Dr. Laura's ringing endorsement of the book she calls a "must read" for parents!
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If someone called your child a “geek” would you be flattered or offended? That’s the question posed by author, speaker and columnist Marybeth Hicks.
Hicks redefines “GEEKs” as Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kids. She says parents whose kids are geeks should feel great about this label. Of course, Hicks uses the term “geek” with a wink, but it’s a reference that concerned parents understand. In her innovative and accessible book, Hicks advises parents to teach kids to resist the influences of popular culture and the social pressure to conform to the expectations and behaviors of the “cool” crowd. Parents of geeks remember to keep the focus on raising kids for long-term success – not for popularity as children.
Who’s cool at school?
Social caste systems within schools have been around as long as children have defined themselves in the context of their peers. From elementary school through high school, certain children have always been crowned “cool” or “popular,” while others are known as “geeks.”
The term “geek” has long described the outcasts of the social scene, those who have little understanding of the dynamics of societal trends and fads, and instead passionately pursue their own quirky and often intellectual interests. Geeks have hardly any sophistication and even less savvy. But is this such a bad thing?
Not for a child, according to Hicks. In her groundbreaking parenting book Bringing up Geeks: How to protect your kids’ childhood in a grow-up-too-fast world (Berkley Books,a division of Penguin Group USA, July 1, 2008), Hicks says a geeky child may not be worldly, but he will be wholesome, curious and authentic, even as he matures.
Hicks contends that a geek can be a safer child as well; a youngster who isn’t constantly trying to fit in has a fighting chance when it comes time to resist peer pressure, and consequently may avoid the high-risk behaviors that attract “cooler” kids.
Redefining what’s cool for kids: The Geek Lifestyle
Hicks’ geeks aren’t the stereotypical nerds of days gone by. No horn-rimmed glasses, pocket protectors, short pants or body odor. Geeks aren’t “loners” or “losers;” they’re well-behaved kids who generally enjoy solid friendships and active social lives. But they’re definitely not “cool.” This is a direct result of parenting decisions that promote what Hicks calls the “geek lifestyle:” a family system in which innocence is protected, media is limited, pop culture is regulated, relationships are fostered and spirituality is encouraged.
Filled with common sense, humor and insight, Bringing up Geeks is the parenting book America has been waiting for. That’s because it takes a cool parent to raise a geek.
From Publisher's Weekly...
“...Hicks reminds us that raising children, difficult in itself, can become a Herculean task at odds with the world around us. Hicks explains how parents can protect their children’s innocence while teaching thoughtfulness, critical thinking skills, proper behavior and spirituality to better help them navigate childhood obstacles-peer pressure, pop culture and ubiquitous media input-and pave the road for healthy, engaged adulthood. Using stories and examples from her own life, Hicks sets out ten rules for parents to follow; in a curious turn of phrase, Hicks reclaims the childhood taunt "GEEK" by defining it as a "genuine, enthusiastic, empowered kid," and turns around several other concepts-"brainiac," "late bloomer," "sheltered," "homebody"-to find their true value. The ideal outcome is a child who’s socially connected but immune to the negative effects of peer pressure, advertising and media. Hicks’s helpful, guide is conversational and at times humorous, encouraging assertive parenting and independent thinking ...with action plans to implement, further advice drawn from experts and a copious resource list."